A restaurant worker scribbled the word "fag" on a napkin and slipped the offending slur into a customer's takeout sack along with his order. Now that worker has gotten sacked himself, media reports say, and the restaurant has posted a public apology.

The shocking slur was added to the order of a gay man at Yesterday's Restaurant & Tavern, an establishment located in the Five Points area of Columbia, South Carolina, reports local newspaper The State.

The man was part of a group that had gone to the restaurant for a birthday celebration, according to a Facebook post by Cyntrell Jones Leggette, whose mother was the one having the birthday. When the man discovered the insulting message, Leggette said in her account, she alerted the manager on duty — only for the manager to blow it off as a "joke."

But Legette wasn't laughing, and neither was the restaurant once she wrote her Facebook post calling out the restaurant's disrespectful behavior.

That's when the restaurant's owners stepped up with an apology, which they posted to the establishment's Facebook page.

"We at Yesterdays Restaurant & Tavern deeply regret the incident that occurred this evening involving a customer," the post read. "It was a hurtful and offensive breach of the commitment Yesterdays has made to our community for over forty years to provide an environment that is inclusive and respectful to each and every guest who comes through the door, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation.The post went on to acknowledge that the slur was a "serious matter,": with the restaurant owners adding, "While the employee in question was dismissed on the spot this is by no means the end of our commitment to the local LBGTQ community.

"We have always supported [sic] this community but will step up our efforts and involve our employees. Hopefully, we can use this as a learning opportunity not just for the employee in question but all of our staff," the post continued. "To any past or potential guests harboring doubts about the sincerity of this apology, we look forward to proving ourselves as good as our word. We have had two daily staff meetings to address this terrible breach of our values and intend to have the whole staff in a meeting after the Christmas Holidays when our college staff will be back in town."

What's more, the post continued, "We are reaching out to our local LBGTQ customers to find someone to come in a help us with this training [sic]."

Leggette left her response in the comments section of the restaurant's post and swatted down insulting suggestions left by other commentators as to the motives of herself and the others in her group.

"I'm the one who made the original post," Leggette wrote. "I am not angry at the owners if they are true to their word and do not uphold this behavior.

"To answer everyone's question, no one in our party desires anything such as free food, a lawsuit, etc.," Leggette continued. "To those who used the term "entitled", I feel entitled to patronize any establishment and not be harassed. To those who say nothing will make us happy, that is untrue. A sincere apology without making even the slightest excuse or cover up" would serve to satisfy her, she added.

Leggette ended her comment with, "I always have and will continue to stand up for those who are bullied and mistreated. Have a great night everyone!"

Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Assistant Arts Editor. He also reviews theater for WBUR. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.